During the summer of 2008 my husband, son and I spent a week in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, our first exchange trip. I'd never heard of Pagosa Springs, and had just asked the RCI Vacation Guide to find us something no more than a three day drive from San Francisco (not in a city). The resort was great, our unit very attractive with anything we might have wanted...We went rafting, hiking, soaked in hot springs, and drove to the town of Taos through some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen. We also had a great trip there and back, with stops at the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park...and more beautiful countryside. A great beginning to our RCI exchange vacations -- can't wait until the next one!
Our trip to Wyndham Pagosa in Colorado was one that we will always remember. We were able to get a place large enough for my brothers and sisters to come along as well. We enjoyed so many places of interest there. We went on a stage coach ride and a sunset dinner included. The sunset dinner was beautiful, especially over the Rocky Mountains. We also found an old ghost town up in one of the mountains above Silverton. We took lots of pictures of the outside, but were also able to go inside all of the buildings. It made for a great day for us to have found the town. We also got to see alpenglow in Ouray. It was beautiful, something that we will always remember. The whole trip was exciting for us. First we were all together on a vacation, then to see and explore the area was so exciting. We even went to the cliff dwellings and of course the hot springs. It was a great time and being together at the resort made it possible.
We have been coming to Pagosa Springs for many years and staying at Fairfield Pagosa, now called Wyndham Pagosa. We fish and golf, bike and hike, we just love the area and the beautiful surroundings. While biking around the area, we saw a house for sale and bought it last summer. This has been our first summer spent in our mountain retreat and now we are free to travel elsewhere to find new places we have never seen. We have friends come up to visit and if we run out of room, we can just book them into an affiliated resort. It was so wonderful to come here year after year and see that it was a place we would like to spend our summers since we are from the Phoenix, Arizona area and it is too hot to stay there in the summers. We love RCI and exchanging!
The variety of activities in Pagosa Springs, CO made this trip particularly memorable. We visited Mesa Verde National Park, Durango, rode the Durango Silverton railroad, fished at Navajo Lake and visited the casinos.
We had the delightful pleasure of spending a week in Pagosa Springs, Colorado with my son and his family and my wife's sister. We exchanged three weeks for three units at the same time. We went fishing and my granddaughter, Jasmine, and I bagged five beautiful rainbow trout between 2 and 4 pounds each...We all had our separate units, so we were granted quality time together and apart which is always a positive and productive way to enjoy togetherness. We also spent a day traveling through the Rockies going to Durango and Silverton, enjoying the beauty of Colorado. Being able to show Jasmine areas that I have taken her father 30 years prior and walking through the streets of Silverton where I first walked when I was a child, bringing back my son and then my granddaughter, was special. The hot springs in Pagosa Springs were delightful and refreshing for one and all. It will be a trip that I will never forget. Thank you RCI as you have been there for us many times since our first exchange in 1978.
I've been lucky enough to travel to all 50 states in the U.S. - I've lived on both coasts and my work has allowed me to spend plenty of time abroad as well. So when my family decided that we were going to have a reunion in Southwestern Colorado, well... let's just say it wasn't the first place I thought of. Now...I am soooo glad that's where we went. And in the heart of it all was one of the quaintest towns I’d ever visited...Pagosa Springs.
Pagosa Springs is nestled amid some of the most beautiful scenery I've seen. The rugged mountains surrounding this city are the backdrop to beautiful rivers and streams that flow in and around this mountain paradise. Pagosa Springs sits at about 7,000 feet above sea level and that means clean air with crisp mountain mornings year round. The air seems cleaner and sweeter up here and you're invigorated for adventure every day!
This charming city is your own launch pad to play in the mountains and discover year round fun - from skiing and snowmobiling in the winter to fly-fishing, hiking and mountain biking in the summer, Pagosa Springs has something for everyone. But no matter what you want to do...don't forget your camera! Seriously, it seems like every bend around every trail, or every time you drive around another corner, there's a picture just waiting to be taken. As an amateur photographer, I instantly fell in love with this place! Pagosa Springs is nature at its best combined with the romantic history of the old west - it’s wild and beautiful and rugged and charming all at the same time... basically, it's perfect!
If you haven't had a chance to check out Pagosa Springs, put it down on your "must-see" list... and if you're anything like me, you won't leave disappointed!
Come back to the blog this week to read stories and see pictures about Pagosa Springs from RCI subscribing members!
We stayed in the Shenandoah Valley and drove to D.C. everyday. The Valley was beautiful and worth the drive everyday. The first day all four of us entered D.C. for the first time (none of us had been before) we saw the Washington Monument for the first time and we were all "awestruck." We will all remember that day and this vacation!!
We went through RCI to exchange for a trip to Virginia and while staying at the resort, we took a trip through the resort to Washington, D.C. We didn't think we would ever be able to visit Washington, D.C. and all the great places that we got to see. We are from a small town and don't travel a lot, but this was a trip that my husband and I will never forget. We took the Civil War tour and also visited some of the historical places that we had read about in history books. Those battles came alive for us by seeing where they had taken place. We would like to go back someday!
We traveled to the DC area to see the sights. We enjoyed The U.S. Capitol, The White House, all the monuments, several museums, Mt. Vernon, many battlefields and even visited with our Congressman. The amazing part of the trip was where we slept each evening. We stayed at an RCI affiliated resort for the week. It is on a beautiful lake and away from the hustle of D.C. Yes, we drove one and a half hours the four mornings we went to D.C. but then we could come back to the "slow" life of the resort. It was perfect for our group!!
Our trip to Washington, D.C. was a highlight because our two daughters were teenagers at the time, and they were even excited about this trip. They both enjoy history just like their parents, so each day was an adventure. We exchanged for a week in the Shenandoah Valley, and had a wonderful two bedroom unit as our home base. We as a family vote this as one of our all time favorites because we drove from Minnesota to D.C., and really had time to visit and connect as a family. The D.C. area was so incredible, and each day, be it the Smithsonian, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum or the White House, was amazing! Our conversations still persist after years of being there, about the fun and new knowledge that we gained. Our family still remains close even as our daughters are now adults, and one is married. We hope to go back to that area again, and would love to exchange our week for the same place.
Our trip to Washington, D.C. was a very tiring, but inspirational trip. We saw so many sights of interest, and they were educational as well. The Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery was just breathtaking to watch. This is a trip I would recommend to anyone. We saw Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, the Kennedy graves, and all the points of interest. We took so many photos and videos so we can always share these memories. The weather was beautiful and we saw the National Christmas Tree, the White House, and too many other sights to name! We stayed at Eagle Trace at Massanutten Resort. The resort was so big, there were so many things to do. We loved it there and this year we are planning on going back and taking the Civil War tour. My husband and I are big history fans and we love to visit places of interest that let you go back in time and think about what happened and where. I hope you got something from my story. Thanks!
Our nation’s capital is a must see for any American. Recently, I was fortunate to spend a week in Washington, DC taking in as much of the city as I could manage. While I was there, I was able to tour the Supreme Court, spend time wandering through the United States Capitol Building, visiting Ford’s Theater, the Smithsonian, Mount Vernon (the home of George Washington), and Alexandria with a group of my peers.
One of the best parts of any vacation is the food. The wonderful thing about Washington, DC is that your food comes with history. We ate at the “Old Ebbitt Grill”, which was established in 1856. Old Ebbitt Grill hosted several presidents, including Grant, Cleveland, Roosevelt, and many more.
We also ate at P.O.V., a restaurant atop the “W” Washington DC hotel, which overlooks the White House. While we ate, we had the thrilling experience of spotting the Secret Service moving around on the roof of the White House. It was definitely, “blink or you’ll miss them.”
Another place to eat is the Senate Dining Room on Capitol Hill. Not only will you possibly hobnob with our nation’s leaders, you also need to try the historic Senate Bean Soup and read about its history on the menu.
Washington, DC is definitely the place where food and history meet. Do you have any stories you could share about Washington, DC? If so, please comment below. And be sure to come back this week to the RCI Blog to read other stories from RCI subscribing members who have visited Washington, DC!
My trip to Williamsburg was the greatest trip. I took my two grandchildren, ages 11 and 7 as well as my neighbor and her two children. We drove down to Virginia from New York and had a wonderful scenic ride. Once we arrived in Williamsburg we were very pleased with our resort. We found the resort to be spacious, clean, and very accommodating. The surrounding amenities were great. The pool area was really nice and clean...I truly recommend using RCI to anyone looking to exchange great accommodations. They will truly meet your expectations.
It's so hard to get an active family together, but we managed it this year at Massanutten. Our daughter came with her husband and 3 year old son. Our son and his girlfriend came in from DC and our oldest son, his wife and two little girls, ages 1 and 5 came too. Only one family could stay the entire week with Craig and I, but it worked out that the guys all got a chance to golf, the girls all got to go trail riding, we got to bike, swim, enjoy the water park and the chairlift and magic show. PLUS we had plenty of time to play games and enjoy each others company...My husband and I have been to this resort many other times, but sharing it with the kids and grandkids really made our vacation special. Thanks so much for providing this wonderful opportunity!!
View from the top of Massanutten Mt. in Virginia with all its peace and tranquility. Spectacular ski lift rides, plus all the fun and challenging activities the resort offers. A great family vacation destination, as well as for all. My husband and I enjoyed every minute of our time at Massanutten. Don't just take my word for it, go check it out for yourself!
Join the more than 4 million visitors a year who watch history come to life in Williamsburg, Virginia! Williamsburg and neighboring Jamestown highlight the intriguing life of early Americans, with replicas of regal ships and daily demonstrations of colonial life. For some downtime, take a side trip to the Williamsburg Winery for tours and a tasting at the state's largest producing winery. And no trip is complete without visiting the giant busts of presidents past at the unique President's Park. Watch Dan as he shows you why Williamsburg's fascinating history, quaint shops and tranquil setting are the perfect getaway from the daily grind!
After enjoying each of our exchange vacations through RCI to such places as Costa Rica, Orlando, and the Poconos, our family of eighteen found our trip to an RCI affiliated resort in the Shenandoah Valley the best. Washington, D. C. was close, as were visits to many nearby sites: Civil War battlegrounds, estates of American historical figures, and beautiful landscapes. The amenities at the Eagle Trace at Massanutten were comfortable, elegant, complete. The setting is rustic, with groundhogs, deer, and other critters visiting below our balconies on a nightly basis (even an occasional skunk!). Eagle Trace had more than enough to keep everyone busy: golf, swimming, horseback riding, wonderful hiking trails. We'll go back.
My family trip to Massanutten: This was one of the best trips I have ever been on. We had so much to do there. The family loved it. We did things we had never done before. We tried skiing, snow boarding, horse back riding, and surfing. I bet you are wondering how we did all of that at one place, well we did! Oh yeah we also did crafts I mean the whole family...This was one of the best affiliated resorts we have been to!
For the last 10 years, my family and I have made several trips to Massanutten. It is a great family resort that has year round attractions. We usually go during ski season where we can enjoy the family friendly short slopes. The green (easy) slope is great for beginners and those new to snowboarding. We also enjoy the enclosed water park when we need a break from the skiing. Each time we have visited the resort we have stayed in different units. Even the small units were larger than most of the units that we visited in other states or locations. I look forward to our next trip to Massanutten this year. I haven't booked it yet...but will be working on it this week!
We received thousands of stories from our subscribing members and want to share them with you. Although we've corrected some spelling and technical errors, the stories are otherwise unchanged (you'll notice that the tone differs from story to story). We don't mean for these stories to inform you about resorts, destinations or even about RCI products and services. For example, some stories talk about unusual exceptions made or circumstances that may not be typical for most vacationers. As usual, we recommend that you do your own research about resorts, destinations, etc. when making travel arrangements. However, these stories are actual accounts that we've received and we think you'll find it as enjoyable as we did to find out about the different experiences other RCI vacationers have had through our programs.
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Our nation’s capital is a must see for any American. Recently, I was fortunate to spend a week in Washington, DC taking in as much of the city as I could manage. While I was there, I was able to tour the Supreme Court, spend time wandering through the United States Capitol Building, visiting Ford’s Theater, the Smithsonian, Mount Vernon (the home of George Washington), and Alexandria with a group of my peers.
